Educational Science

Broken-Heart Syndrome May Stem from the Brain

The origins of a broken heart may be found in the brain. Or, more specifically, the origins of a condition called broken-heart syndrome. Broken-heart syndrome, or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, occurs when the heart muscles suddenly weaken, causing the heart to change shape. The condition is typically brought on by extreme emotion...

500-Year-Old Greenland Mummies Had Heart Disease, Scans Show

Five mummies lay entombed in ice in Greenland for some 500 years, their flesh, muscles and even their blood vessels sealed off from the vagaries of decay. Now, scientists have analyzed the mummies to find that some of them had arteries that were coated with plaque, a sign of atherosclerosis....

CHICAGO — Pneumonia caused by bacterial infections poses a much greater threat to the heart than pneumonia caused by viral infections, a new study suggests. Patients in the study who were diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke or death, compared with patients diagnosed with...

Man's Bloody Tears Were Caused by This Rare Condition

It sounds like a scary Halloween costume: a man with bloody tears pouring down his face. But for a man in Italy, such tears were the real thing, the result of a rare condition that causes people to cry blood. The 52-year-old man went to an emergency room after bloody...

Why Late-Night Eating May Hurt Your Heart

CHICAGO — Late-night meals may take a toll on heart health, a new study suggests. The research, presented here today (Nov. 10) at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions annual meeting, found that eating more later in the evening was associated with an increased risk of heart disease. People in...

'Broken-Heart' Syndrome Is Real. This Complication Makes It Deadly.

People who experience a rare condition known as broken-heart syndrome need immediate medical attention, but often make a quick recovery. But the problem can be particularly deadly if these patients also develop a complication in which their heart can't pump enough blood to the body, a new study finds. What's...

Why Men Who Can Do 40 Pushups May Have Better Heart Health

The ability to do a lot of pushups may be a sign not only of strength, but also of good heart health, a new study suggests. The study tested the stamina of middle-aged male firefighters. It found that those who could do more than 40 pushups in a row had...

Here's Why a Perfect Heart Shape Showed Up on a Girl's X-Ray

It looks like someone drew a heart over a child's X-ray. But this cartoonish heart — which seemingly floats in the child's throat — is real, the result of a heart-shaped pendant that got stuck in the girl's esophagus. The X-ray was taken when a 3-year-old girl was brought to...

Aspirin Can Help Your Heart. Omega-3s Might. But Together? Maybe Not.

Eating one tuna sandwich might increase the risk of heart disease in people also taking aspirin, but eating three tuna sandwiches and taking aspirin … might not. At least, that's according to new findings presented Nov. 10 at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions annual meeting. The findings have...